Feguson to20 hydralic won't keep implement up

[Andrew Schlueter]

My father gave me his fathers Feguson to20 tractor. Over the years the hydralics have begun to not keep and implement up or at a set depth. I've rebuilt the pump and piston and have good lift. I think the problem must be the valve or a faulty safety relief valve. I have a new valve to install but wonder if the valve body gets worn or is there a procedure to fit the new valve to the valve body? Also, is there a test for the safety valve? Any tips and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jerry/MT]

The tractor hydraulics are designed for draft control only, not position control. So it will not hold a set depth or position without an add on position control device. You can make one of these or buy a ready made one. (Check out the Ferguson Forum). You"d be wise to buy an Owners Manual and a Ferguson Shop Manual so you can be informed on how to operate and repair the tractor.

 

[Andrew Schlueter]

Thanks for the information. I'm not sure what you mean by draft vrs. position control. The tractor has a lever on the right side of the seat to raise or lower the 3pt hitch. The lever has an adjustable stop. With draft control how do you keep something like a bush hog off the ground?

Here's a better explaination of the problem that might help. It used to be that if you had an implement raised and shut down the tractor it would stay raised, even overnight. Now, when you shut the tractor off the implement starts immediately to lower down to the ground. This is what leads me to believe the oil was leaking past the valve or the safety valve leaked.

Love manuals and still have the original bug eaten one for this tractor though it's a few hours away on the farm right now. I'll go back to it again.

Thanks

 

[Jerry/MT]

Draft control means that when you lower a ground engaging piece of equipment(like a plow), if the draft force increases or decreases, the plow will correspondingly lift or lower, to keep the draft force the same. Position control means that you can set the plow in a fixed position and it will maintain that position. There is no position control on your tractor so it won"t do this.
There is a way to use the Ferguson System to hold up a mower. Go to the Fegruson Forum and look it up in the archives. It"s referred to as Marlowe"s method since he posted it.

Regarding your lift not holding up after you shutdown, that is usually caused by a leak.The usual leaks are the lift cylinder, the supply pipe seal to the lift cover(the supply pipe is in the right side front corner of the hydraulic compartment) or a possibly stuck open releif valve. I might say that the acceptable lift let down time is 15 minutes with a plow on the three point.